Perhaps. As Portland economist Joe Cortright was quick to point out, however, then-President George W. Bush made a similar announcement in 2008 when he gave the crossing "national priority status."

Mary Peters, Bush's transportation secretary, said at the time:

"The President's order is an important step toward making this project a
reality so we can get goods to market, and travelers to their
destinations efficiently and safely."

As we now know, planning for the project continued to stretch on for years -- and it's still not clear if the project will get the federal and state funding it needs to become reality. Other major hurdles include that the Coast Guard's concerns that the bridge would not provide enough clearance for river traffic.

"Expediting doesn't mean approving," said Cortright, adding that the delays "does not have anything to do with the federal government moving slowly, it has everything to do with the CRC screwing up."

Cortright, who has been working with opponents of the project, predicted that the latest designation won't prove to be any more significant than the one from the Bush administration.

Anne Pressentin, spokeswoman for the project run jointly by Oregon and Washington, argued that the new blessing from the current administration "is very helpful for the project." She said there is now a schedule for obtaining the necessary federal permits and said that major construction can start in 2014 -- if the money becomes available.